upgrade to Focal Maestro , need your advice about AMP / PRE (also DAC and Cables)

[pelo911]

my current system:

acoustic zen silver reference ii XLR interconnect
Cardas Clear speaker cable
wireworld platinum usb cable
Focal Electra 1038 be II
Pass labs X350.5
Pass labs Xp10 pre
Oppo BDP-105
PC computer

Thanks

 

[Bruce B]

You already have a great amp/pre. The only thing you may need upgrading is your digital.

Just change one thing at a time so you can get a handle on what your reference is and how the sound is changing. I get a nice DAC... don't know what your budget is and start from there.

 

[pelo911]

Sterophile review said those Speakers need very powerfull Amp , they use Classe 600 on the review

this is why i not sure my Amp good enough

about DAC:
can you recommend on 2-3 models?
i can find on Audigon used for very good price

 

[JackD201]

X350.5? I don't think you have anything to worry about on the power front.

 

[AMP]

Yeah, those speakers are very power hungry, but your X-350.5 has no shortage there. If you like the sound then you're set.

We have a customer running those with XA-100.5 monoblocks and he's quite happy with the performance.

 

[MarinJim]

You already have a great amp/pre. The only thing you may need upgrading is your digital.

Just change one thing at a time so you can get a handle on what your reference is and how the sound is changing. I get a nice DAC... don't know what your budget is and start from there.

I could not disagree more. All you need is the ModWright tube mod.

"My final remarks are very simple. If you want to hear music in all its glory I would implore you to rush out and get this Modwright Oppo,you will never be sorry.”
Arnie Nudell – Famed Genesis Loudspeaker Designer!

And for the money, I have found no better ss amp than the 600 wpc (4 ohms) Magnus MA-300. From Enjoy the Music review, "The fit and finish of the Magnus MA-300 is excellent. It is a very handsomely designed unit that conveniently has handles incorporated into the design to make moving its 160 pound weight easy. The detail work of the chassis is solid and well crafted; it is as solid as a rock. The detail of the wiring, circuit boards and soldering is impeccably done. As a result of the chassis being well constructed and the quality of components used, this amplifier makes zero noise (mechanically or electrically through the speakers). A component that costs $10,000 that can compete heads up in sound quality and build with $50,000 competitors has to be the best value for your money. In some reviews, one has to read between the lines on some performance issue of the component being reviewed. That clearly is not the case with the Magnus MA-300. It is has the performance to compete against amplifiers costing five times as much, it is a superb component. After a week of listening to the Magnus CA300 in my system. I bought it. I think that says it all."

 

[FrantzM]

my current system:

acoustic zen silver reference ii XLR interconnect
Cardas Clear speaker cable
wireworld platinum usb cable
Focal Electra 1038 be II
Pass labs X350.5
Pass labs Xp10 pre
Oppo BDP-105
PC computer

Thanks

I am with Bruce. You already have a great system and you've moved to better speakers. I would suggest the following:

Address Room Acoustics .Depending on the issues you have in your room it may cost you between $1000 and several tens of a thousands, I tend to think think that even a thousand would be money well spent, of course assuming this hasn't been addressed yet.
Iwould also suggest an upgrade on the DAC side, the recomendations will be numerous but you could start with two (relatively) modestly priced DAcs IMO extremely good, just to have a taste of what the latest Digital gears are capable of:
Mytek Stereo 192
M2Tech Young
The Mytek has DSD. A great unit. The M2Tech is a different sound but IMO slightly more refined.

If you want to go full blast you may not be able to do much better than the Berkeley Design Alpha DAC Series 2... There are more expensive DACs of course, few on the market surpass The BADA ...I have heard several DACs lately and the BADA holds its own against them.

And for those who have been following my thought on this forum ... Get at least two subs, good serious subs.


I don't think I answered your questions directly, so here it goes. NO don't touch your amp and preamp
and to make it clear that it wasn't a typo
Leave amps and preamp alone

 

[microstrip]

my current system: (...)

Please tell us how, in your opinion, your current system sounds and what you would like to improve - otherwise it is impossible to be of any help.
Remember that in this hobby many times a man's meat is another's poison.

 

[MarinJim]

Keep the Oppo 105. I have had a $32,000 Burmester 089 and $18,000 GNSC Wadia S7i, and prefer the ModWright 105 with NOS tubes (PSVANE and Amperex UK).

 

[pelo911]

Keep the Oppo 105. I have had a $32,000 Burmester 089 and $18,000 GNSC Wadia S7i, and prefer the ModWright 105 with NOS tubes (PSVANE and Amperex UK).

i didn't know that the Modwright tweak are so good !

i mostly use my computer to play music (99% of the time)
this is why i thought it will be better to invest on a good DAC

Focal Dealer told me that he don't think the Pass Labs are a good match with Focal Maestro , he tried and like the others much better

he recommend Aesthetix Atlas Signature Mono
or for more money the Accuphase A-65

and for DAC/CD: Aesthetix Romulus (Tube)
and Tara Labs 0.8 or Zero Cables
(also Running Springs power conditioner)

i'm trying to find a Focal Maestro owner , i found only one guy that use Devialet D-Premier and like it very much.

 

[pelo911]

Yeah, those speakers are very power hungry, but your X-350.5 has no shortage there. If you like the sound then you're set.

We have a customer running those with XA-100.5 monoblocks and he's quite happy with the performance.

X350.5 working at Class A up to 40W

i don't understand how XA100.5 with only 100W can drive those speakers
on streophile review they use Simaudio W7 and then Classe 600 , the reviewer like them with the more power Classe much better:

"This character did seem somewhat amplifier-dependent. It was more noticeable with the Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7 that I've long used as a reference power amplifier than it was with the Classé CTM-600 monoblocks that arrived halfway through my time with the Focals (review to appear in the fall). More important, with the otherwise excellent Simaudio amp, the speakers didn't offer the unrestricted dynamics I'd expected. The highly sensitive Maestro Utopia III wouldn't, at least in theory, need a high-powered amplifier to play loud. Yet the 150Wpc Simaudio was clearly being asked for more than it could deliver."

 

[pelo911]

here you can see the Measurements:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/focal-maestro-utopia-iii-loudspeaker-measurements

 

[pelo911]

bump

 

[clab]

Pelo911,

I have heard your Focal Maestro with 2 Devialet, each used in mono ...
it was a big room (maybe 80 square meters), a huge sound, very dynamic, never hard, excellent definition, realistic colors ...
I am very much impressed ...
I thought before hearing this demo, Devialet is a brand for design freaks ... I changed my mind since
the demo was organized by the swiss importer of Focal ... impressive
he uses also the big Accuphase

 

[clab]

Pelo911,

I have heard your Focal Maestro with 2 Devialet, each used in mono ...
it was a big room (maybe 80 square meters), a huge sound, very dynamic, never hard, excellent definition, realistic colors ...
I am very much impressed ...
I thought before hearing this demo, Devialet is a brand for design freaks ... I changed my mind since
the demo was organized by the swiss importer of Focal ... impressive
he uses also the big Accuphase

 

[pelo911]

Pelo911,

I have heard your Focal Maestro with 2 Devialet, each used in mono ...
it was a big room (maybe 80 square meters), a huge sound, very dynamic, never hard, excellent definition, realistic colors ...
I am very much impressed ...
I thought before hearing this demo, Devialet is a brand for design freaks ... I changed my mind since
the demo was organized by the swiss importer of Focal ... impressive
he uses also the big Accuphase

you heard also with Accuphase ?

 

[jsn]

my current system:

acoustic zen silver reference ii XLR interconnect
Cardas Clear speaker cable
wireworld platinum usb cable
Focal Electra 1038 be II
Pass labs X350.5
Pass labs Xp10 pre
Oppo BDP-105
PC computer

Thanks

Hi,
The Focal chose the Lavardin for their demo:
http://www.lavardin.com/jmlab-utopia-E.html
.
In Munich HE Show 2013, Focal paired with Soulution demonstration also highly praised.

 

[clab]

you heard also with Accuphase ?

no I didn't

 

[pelo911]

I red good reviews about Devialet 200/400
I like the simplicity , only using one device for the whole system

should I try it in my system?
not sure if they can handle the Maestro 1.8ohm at low frequency.

the Devialet Phantom also very nice !

 

[Audiophile Bill]

In short - no. Don't do it.

I own Maestro and used to have d premier. My Krells produce a far larger soundstage an enormously musical compared. Oh and bass - it is explosive in slam. The Maestro is nasty load and does not take kindly to devialet ime.